The Effect of Humeral Head Depressor Strengthening in Individuals With Subacromial Impingement Syndrome

NCT07228455 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2023/115-1751
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Subacromial impingement syndrome is a common musculoskeletal disorder. Therefore, to improve the shoulder biomechanics affected by the syndrome, an intervention group was compared with a control group. The exercise program applied to the intervention group is expected to improve the function of the shoulder complex.

Conditions

Subacromial Impingement Syndrome

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Acromio-humeral Distance (Ultrasonography, USG)

  Baseline and 6 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• Tendon Thickness Measurment

  Baseline and 6 week

• Pain (Visual Analog Scale, VAS)

  Baseline and 6 weeks

• Pain (McGill Pain Questionnaire-Pain Rating Index)

  Baseline and 6 weeks

• Kinesiophobia (Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire - FABQ, Physical Activity subscale)

  Baseline and 6 weeks

• Kinesiophobia (Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire - FABQ, Work subscale)

  Baseline and 6 weeks.

Study Arms (2)

The Intervention Group

EXPERIMENTAL

The Intervention group underwent a progressive resistance exercise program to strengthen the humeral head depressors and peri-articular muscles, including the rotator cuff. The exercises were performed 3 times per week for 6 weeks, with each session lasting approximately 1 hour

Behavioral: Humeral Head Depressor Exercises

The Control Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in the control group received standard physical therapy and rehabilitation as usually applied in routine care. Sessions were performed 3 times per week for 6 weeks, each lasting approximately 1 hour.

Behavioral: Standard physical therapy

Interventions

Humeral Head Depressor Exercises BEHAVIORAL

The Intervention group underwent a progressive resistance exercise program to strengthen the humeral head depressors and peri-articular muscles, including the rotator cuff. Exercises were performed 3 times per week for 6 weeks, each session lasting approximately 1 hour

The Intervention Group

Standard physical therapy BEHAVIORAL

Participants in this group received standard physical therapy and rehabilitation as usually applied in routine care. Exercises were performed 3 times per week for 6 weeks, each session lasting approximately 1 hour. Outcomes were measured at the same time points as the intervention group.

The Control Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Volunteers who complained of shoulder pain for more than a month,
• Who had limitation in passive movement compared to the other side shoulder,
• Who had Neer impingement test, Hawkins test, Jobe supraspinatus test, and -
• Who were able to com-municate were included in the study

You may not qualify if:

• Having any neurological condition affecting the upper extremity,
• Having neuro-logical findings related to cervical disc herniation,
• Having a full-thickness rupture of one of the rotator cuff tendons,
• Having calcific tendonitis,
• Having undergone previous shoulder surgery,
• Physical therapy-rehabilitation for the shoulder with the same complaints in the last 6 months,
• Receiving corticosteroid injection were excluded from the study

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Near East University, Turkey: lead

Study Sites (1)

Near East University Hospital

Nicosia, Cyprus

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Kurtaran U, Yerlikaya T, Yenen B, Ozgul A. The Effect of Humeral Head Depressor Strengthening on Individuals with Subacromial Impingement Syndrome. Medicina (Kaunas). 2025 Nov 19;61(11):2061. doi: 10.3390/medicina61112061.

  PMID: 41303896 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Shoulder Impingement Syndrome

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Shoulder Injuries; Wounds and Injuries

Study Officials

• Ahmet OZGUL, Prof.

  Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kyrenia University Hospital, Kyrenia, Cyprus

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Masking Details: Participants were blinded to their group assignment, but therapist were aware of the group allocations
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Model Details: Participants were quasi-randomly and sequentially assigned to either an intervention group receiving humeral head depressor exercises or a control group receiving routine exercise therapy. Each group followed their respective program for the duration of the study.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 29, 2025
• First Posted: November 14, 2025
• Study Start: July 3, 2023
• Primary Completion: July 3, 2024
• Study Completion: July 3, 2024
• Last Updated: November 14, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-11

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CY (1)